Tech investment key for Costcutter
IT’S all about tech at Costcutter at the moment as the symbol group has been rolling out a whole range of new equipment and upgrades across its stores.
Dave Morris, director of IT for Costcutter Supermarkets Group, said that the symbol intends to be at the head of the pack when it comes to finding digital solutions for the retail environment, while still being selective about how it invests.
“We need to be at the forefront of latest technology, but with the vast number of new technologies on the market, it’s about utilising and investing only in those that are proven to make a difference to the bottom line,” he said.
Highlighting Costcutter’s ongoing roll-out of self-service checkouts across its stores, Morris reckons that when investment in technology is targeted in the right direction, it can pay dividends for retailers.
“Our IT team has focused on developing checkouts which cater for a whole range of retailer requirements, including smaller store formats. We also ensure that our retailers receive expert support and advice through installation to operation,” he said.
Last year, Costcutter introduced contactless payment across its stores, as well as over 1,000 Android and Apple Pay enabled devices installed across the group. Both mobile payment methods are now available to all Costcutter, Mace, Supershop, Kwiksave and Simply Fresh stores which operate Costcutter Supermarkets Group’s CPoS system.
Investment in new technology doesn’t stop at mobile payments either according to Morris, who said Costcutter remains committed to long -term investment in new technology.
“New technology is being developed all the time, but it is about finding those technologies which make tangible differences to our retailers’ businesses.
“One of our most popular investments has been in our ActivHUB portal and ActivMOBILE app, which ensure our retailers have everything they want and need at their fingertips including access to product, promotion, ordering and invoice information.
“Our latest Shopper First dashboards of shopper personal data for retailers can also be easily referenced,” he said.
As part of Costcutter’s ActivHUB, the symbol group’s retailers can also gain access to the ‘Your Sell More Toolkit’, which offers a selection of tools focused on four key goals to drive sales in store: ‘more from your range’, ‘more from your store’, ‘more from your customers’. and ‘more from your team’.
